Aeroplane.



.0, R. JOHNSON. AEROPLANE. APPIPUATION FILED JULY 10| 1912.

1,055,468, Patented Mar.-1`1,\1913. A-

2 sHEnTs-snm'r if CHARLES R. JOHNSON,

OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

AEROPLANE Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patent-ea Mar. i1, reis.

Application tiled July 1G, 1912. Serial No. 703,554.

` To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, CHARLES R. JOHN- son', a citizen ofthe United States, residii'ig at Topeka, county of1 Shawnee, and State of Kansas, have. invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplanes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to aeroplanes or heavier than air flying machines.

The object of my inventio-n is to provide a flying machine of the class mentioned which may rise directly from the ground without necessitating the initial forwardl movement heretofore considered essential.

A further object .of my invention is to provide ina flying machine of the character mentioned an arrangement of the plane, or the upper plane if more than one is employed, whereby the means provided for lifting the device shall not interfere with y nor disturb the equilibrium of the machine.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel arrangement of the plane, or upper pla-ne, as the case may be, whereby greater equilibrium is secured in no rmal forward flight than with the usual arrangement of such plane.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device as above stated equipped with means whereby the lifting and propelling mechanismssha-ll be Adirectly under the control of the operator so that either may be instantly stopped or started, and driven independently or simultaneously.

Other objects willtpp'ear hereinafter.

With theseobjects in view my invention consists generally in a suitable frame arlranged with a plane,.a motor and propelling mechanism, and equipped with one or more propellers provided with means for coupling the same to the motor. whereby the device may be lifted directly from the ground.

In carrying out my invention I am not limiting myself to the number of superimposed Vplanes provided, but with any construction employed I arrange one of the lifting propellers above the uppermost plane, and if a second propeller is' provided I larrange the same in axial alinelnent with the upper propeller and beneath the lowermost plane. My invention furtherconsists ina peculiar arrangement of the planebeneath the upper propeller, the same being of inverted 'V-shape l1n cross section and rearwardly warped, whereby the downwardly directed current of air from said propeller shall not affect the equilibrium of the device nor interfere with the rising of the same and whereby greater equilibrium is secured when traveling forwardly than with the ordinary arrangement, the motor and drivers seat being arranged in a plane below said V-shaped plane.

My invention further consists in various details of construction and arrangements of parts all as will be fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out in the claim.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and inwhioh- Figure 1 is a partial front elevation of the device, Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal secclutch for the lifting device and the 'means for operating the same, Fig. t a similar view of t-he propelling device, and Fig. 5 is a section on the line -m of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings 1 indicates.

the upper tudinally of the device and mounted uponl -tion ofthe same, Fig. 3 is a detailview -upon an enlarged scale illustrating the therear end thereof is a propeller 8. The propeller 8 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 7 in order that the same may lie idle when desired while the motor 1s running.

9 indicates frame members leading to andv supporting the tail andi-ridders.

f lrrauged at the center of equilibrium of the devlce is a pair of vertically disposed alined shafts 10. and l1 which are connected to the motor shaft 7 by beveled gearing l2.-

Loosely mounted upon the upper and lower ends of the shafts l() and 1l respectively are lifting propeller-s 13 and lili, the former of which is arranged above the upper plane 2 and the latter below the lower plane. 3.

Keyed to the shafts 10 and 11 are clutch f members l5 and 16A which are adapted to engage corresponding` clutch members 17 and lS on the hubs of the propellers 13 and 14 respectively -to couple the same to the shafts 10 and l1. Springs 19 interposed hetween the clutch members 15 and-1b and the frame 1 normally hold the clutch niembers bin engagement.. It is obvious that when the motor is in operation'land the clutch members' above described are in engageinent, the Propellers 13 and l-,t will lift the device, said propellers being of Snttici'ent size for this purpose. v

Suitable means are provided for retracting the clutch members 15 and 16 to uncouple the propellersl and lat from their respective shafts, The horizontally dis posed rock shaft Q() is arranged transversely of the frame adjacent the gearing 12 and a two armed lever 21 is fixed to said shaft. The ends of the arms of the lever 21 are connected by links 22 to rods 23 eritending to yokes 24 which in turn are operatively connected to the respective clutch members land 16.

'The numerals indicate bearings for th rod 23.

It is obvious, by reference to Fig. 3 that by rocking the shaft 2O the pro-pellers 13 and 14 may be controlled.

26 indicates an arm fixed to the shaft() and v27 a rod connected to said arm and leading to a foot lever 28 arranged adjacent the operators seat 5 and by means of which the clutches may be operated by the foot.

l As before stated the driving propeller 8 is loosely mounted on the shaft 7 and a clutch member 29 is keyed to the shaft and arranged' to coperate with a clutch member 3 0 on the hub of the propeller.

"31 indicates a spring interposed between `the clutch member 29 and the frame lptor lnormally holding the clutch members in engagement.

Y' 32 indicates a rod leading from the clutch member to a foot lever 33 arranged adjacent the operators seat, and the operation of which.is obvious.

. special feature of my invention is the construction and arrangement of the plane 2. This plane is inclined downwardly to-.

ward each side from a medial longitudinal line, or substantially inverted V-shape in cross section', and warped rearwardly as in dicated in Figs. l and 2. By this construction the current of air directed downwardly from the propeller 13 does not interfere with the rising of the device and furthermore it increases the equilibrium of the de vice due to a central condensation under the upper plane, particularly as the motor and operators seat are arranged considerably below the crest of the plane 2.

3l indicates a crank by means of which 4the operator may start the motor.

The device is provided with supports 35 which are preferably cushioned to absorb all jar or shock when the device alights on the ground.

Having described my invention whatV I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters vPatent is In a heavierI than air lvingunachine. a lower plane, an upper plane, a mdtor arranged between said planes, a motor shaft, a pair ot vertically disposed alined shafts geared to said 'motor shaft, a lift-ing propeller arranged on one ot the last said shafts above said upper plane, a second lifting propeller arranged on the other of said vertically disposed shafts and beneath said lower plane, adriving propeller on said motor shaft and means for coupling said propellers to their respective shafts, substantially as described.

ln testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification in the presence ot two subscribing witnesses.

CHAR-LES R. JOHNSON.

llitnesses AMANDA Winnaars View `WiLLIA Bis. 

